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Just look at the hands of these generals.

They might never have actually lifted any real arms themselves...

but in what a grand manner they move...

forward their troops in this square battlefield.

But even the battle is not real.

Here, there will neither flow rivers of blood...

nor will there be the staking of heads or of land...

nor will any regime be overturned.

Mirza Sajjad Ali and Mir Roshan Ali are not fighting...

they are playing.

They prefer to ride, not real, but horses of the minds.

That is why they have made the old and excellent game...

of chess, their playground.

Check!

Mirza Sajjad Ali is giving check.

This is the king of the white army and the red queen is...

about to launch an attack on him.

Mir Sahib, save your king.

If the king is lost the game is over.

Maqbool Mian.

Poor Maqbool, who knows how many more pipes will...

have to be filled today.

Because today, there will be more battles fought in this battlefield.

This array of battles is continuing from the day...

when these two friends were taken with this game.

And maybe, you might ask...

Brother, don't they have any other work?

No, sir. Do fiefs ever have any work to do?

By the grace of god, they are the rich for the past several...

generations and that too, from Lucknow.

Since the time the Mughal Sultanate in Delhi became...

defunct, Lucknow became the emerald of etiquette.

The fun-loving gentry of Lucknow, believe that...

throwing money about, is work.

There was another aspect to this culture.

The king of this fun-loving kingdom is...

Nawab Wajid Ali Shah who has a liking for everything...

except running his kingdom.

"Your highness, congratulations."

"Your highness, congratulations."

"May you live a long life."

"May you live a long life."

"I am fortunate to have your glimpse."

"Your highness, congratulations."

"Your highness, congratulations."

"Your highness..."

"Your highness..."

Every once in a while Wajid Ali Shah would also hold court.

He might not love to rule his kingdom...

but he loved his crown very much.

It was five years ago, that he had sent this crown...

with great grandeur to an exhibition in London.

And do you know what an Englishman said...

on the subject of this crown?

The wretch at Lucknow who has sent his crown to the exhibition...

would have done his people and us a great service if he had sent head in it

and he never would have missed it.

That is the cherry that would drop into our mouth one day.

The head of the king of Avadh, and swallowed like a cherry?

These are the words of India's Governor-General...

Lord Dalhousie.

Maybe the cherry is the favourite fruit of Lord Dalhousie.

How many cherries has he swallowed up...

in the last ten years?

Punjab, Burma, Nagpur, Satara, Jhansi.

And now, only one cherry remains, Avadh.

Whose friendship with the English goes back...

a hundred years to the time of Nawab Shujauddaulah.

And it was Nawab Shujauddaulah's foolishness...

that he challenged the strength of the English.

The result was that he had to suffer a terrible defeat.

But look at the generosity of the English government!

They did not take over the kingdom but got him to sign a...

friendship treaty and fixed a small sum of...

5 million rupees as penalty.

From that day till today, the Nawabs of Avadh have...

maintained their friendship with the English...

and whenever the English need money for any war...

the treasure houses of Avadh are opened.

This is how the debt of friendship is paid off.

In any case, if the English government had...

any complaints against a Nawab, then...

The English were so pleased with the generosity of...

Nawab Gazziuddin Hyder, that they honored him with the title of king.

And this is the very crown that Wajid Ali Shah had sent for the exhibition.

Nawab Wajid Ali Shah, wish you knew what plots...

the English Resident, General Outram...

was hatching for you.

Come in.

- From Cawnpore, sir. General Wheeler. - Yes.

- Weston. - Sir.

Have you ever seen a pigeon that has one black and...

one white wing?

No, sir.

So now, Jalman Khan, the keeper of the royal pigeons...

- received a Kila, reward, I suppose? - Yes, sir.

Of two thousand rupees, for producing a pigeon with one...

black and one white wing.

I find this a very revealing document, Weston.

It is an hour-by-hour account of the king's activities...

dated the 24th of January... that's yesterday.

Do you know the king prayed five times a day.

Five is the number prescribed by the Koran, sir.

Surely, all Muslims don't pray five times a day.

Well, not all, sir but some do.

The king being one of them.

The king is known to be a very devout man, sir.

I see.

His majesty listened to a new singer, Mustali Bai...

and afterwards he amused himself by...

flying kites on the palace roof.

That's at 4 pm, when the king goes to sleep for an hour...

but he is up in time for the third prayer at 5 pm.

And then, in the evening... where is it... here it is...

His majesty recited a new poem on the loves of the Bulbul?

A bird, sir. The pheasant nightingale.

After the mushaira. What's mushaira?

A mushaira is a gathering of poets. They recite the new poems.

I see. Weston, you know the language.

You know the people here. What kind of poet is the king?

Is he any good or is it simply that because he is the king that they say he's good.

I think he's rather good, sir.

- Do you? - Yes, sir.

- Do you know any of his stuff? - I know some, sir.

Well, can you recite it, I mean you know it by heart?

Recite it, sir?

Yes. I'm not a poetry man. I know many soldiers are but...

I'm curious to know how it sounds.

I like the sound of Hindustani.

- Are they long, these poems? - Not the ones I know, sir.

- Go on, man. Out with it. - Sir.

'Wound not my bleeding body throw flowers gently on my grave.'

'though mingled with the earth I rose up to the skies.'

'people mistook my rising dust for the heavens'

- Is that all? - That's all, sir.

Well, it certainly has the virtue of brevity.

What the hell does it mean, if anything?

He's speaking about himself, sir.

What's he saying? There's nothing obscene, I hope.

- No, sir. - Well, what's he saying?

'Wound not my bleeding body throw flowers gently on my grave.'

'Though mingled with the earth I rose up to the skies. '

'People mistook my rising dust for the heavens'

That's all, sir.

Doesn't strike me as a great writer of poetry, I'm afraid.

Doesn't translate very well, sir.

But what about his songs? He's something of a composer, I understand.

- Are they any good, these songs? - They keep running in your head, sir.

I find them quite attractive, some of them.

I see.

He's really quite gifted, sir.

He's also fond of dancing, sir.

I so understand. With bells on his feet, like nautch girls.

Also dresses up like a Hindu God, I'm told.

You are right, sir. He also composes his own operas.

Doesn't leave him much time for his concubines...

not to speak of the affairs of state.

Does he really have 400 concubines?

I believe that's the count, sir.

And 29 muta wives. What the hell are muta wives?

Muta wives, sir. That's temporary wives.

- Temporary wives. - Yes, sir.

A muta marriage can last for 3 days, 3 months or 3 years.

- Muta is an Arabic word. - And it means temporary.

- No, sir. - No?

It means, enjoyment, sir.

Oh! Oh, yes. I see.

Most instructive.

What kind of a king all this makes him, Weston.

All these various accomplishments.

Rather a special kind, sir, I should think.

Special? I'd have used a stronger word, Weston.

I would've said a bad king.

A verminous, effeminate, irresponsible, worthless king.

He's not the first eccentric in the...

No, I know he's not the first but he certainly deserves to be the last.

We've put up with this nonsense long enough.

Eunuchs, fiddlers, nautch girls, muta wives and...

God knows, what else.

He can't rule, he has no wish to rule and therefore...

he has no business to rule.

There I would agree with you, sir.

Good, Good. I'm glad to hear that.

I was in mind to recommend you for a higher position when we take over.

Takeover, sir?

Takeover, Weston.

And any suspicion you hold a brief for the king...

would ruin your chances.

You remember that.

- Maqbool. - Sir.

- Bring the betel leaf case. - Right, sir.

Mirza, where did you get this, this 'Wasli'.

Oh, consider it a jewel among refuse. That's all.

You know that scrap-dealer at the corner...

- of the cattle-market? - Yes.

I struck a deal for 50 rupees with him.

- Did you like it? - It is good.

Has to be good. It belongs to Munshi Shamsuddin.

If you come to my place, I will show you a better...

wasli than this.

It was in the drawing room...

now my wife has put it up in her bedroom.

'Your.'

'Where the sun has been.'

Mir, there is an important principle in chess...

- that is never broken. - What's principle?

If you touch a piece, it is obligatory to move that piece.

That's the limit. I always...

You always pick up a piece, think for a moment and...

then move another piece. This is what you always do.

In the last game, you picked up the knight and...

then moved the pawn. Then you picked up the rook and...

Oh, let it go. I made a mistake.

I will be careful in future. Why are you getting annoyed?

Come on. Make your move.

Oh God!

Come, my pawn. In the name of god.

Sir, Munshi Nandlal of the Jawai is here.

Oh, oh.

Bring him here.

Come, Munshi. Please come.

- Greetings. - Greetings.

You have remembered us after a long time.

Munshi, there was a mention of you just a while ago.

You will live a long time.

It is your kindness, sir. I hope I am not interrupting.

Interrupting? No, not at all. What are you saying?

Now that you are here, we cannot think of anything else.

- Please sit down. - You are most kind.

Come. Sit.

Oh! A game was being started.

- Yes, actually. - Then. I must leave.

Oh, no. There is no need.

Munshi, we have been playing for a long time.

This is the 4th game today.

- Is that so? - Please sit down.

Great, great. The game of kings and the king of games.

I feel great pride in the fact that this is a game...

invented in India.

- Oh, is that so? - This hasn't come from Iran?

No, not at all.

It went from India and reached all foreign lands.

Great. You've are very smart.

You are playing as per Hindustani rules, aren't you?

- Are there any other rules? - Yes. The English rules.

Now, this chess has also come under the purview...

of the Company, has it?

Superb!

I have learn it from Mr. Cullen of La Martiniere School.

I go there to teach him Urdu and Pharisee, you know.

All right. Munshi, what is the difference between the two?

Nawab, there is not much of a difference.

In the English version, the Minister is called the Queen...

and both are opposite each other.

Is that so?

And the pawn's first move can be two squares.

- Two squares? - Yes two squares.

And if it reaches the opposite end, it becomes a queen.

Oh, these Englishmen do wonderful things.

- But what's the use of these changes? - The game gets over faster.

Why? Do they find our game slow?

Yes, they find our transport also so.

That's why we are to have railways soon.

And wire services.

Wire houses have already come but I don't...

- like them one bit. - Why?

- Bad news travels so fast. - Bad news?

Haven't you heard anything?

We don't hear anything. We only play.

Mir Sahib, laughing it off won't rid you of the problem.

I have heard that the Company is going to take over Avadh.

Oh my god!

I had come here just to communicate this news.

Munshi, you play the game as per English rules but still...

haven't understood their moves?

Oh, brother.

This battle in Punjab, this battle in Nepal...

this battle in Afghanistan.

For all these battles, the need is money and...

and the Company is broke.

Where will it get the money from?

From the king of Avadh. But how?

It's a simple idea.

Tell the king that the government is not happy with...

you pay the penalty or the Company will take over.

The king quietly pays the money...

the Company's heard the jingle of the gold coins...

the objection gone, the king is free, the Company is happy.

You think that this time too the Company wants money?

What else? They are always short of money and...

they want to spend on railways and wire services.

Your impression could be right. Mir Sahib.

But I suspect the motives of Lord Dalhousie.

I have heard that their armies have reached Kanpur.

Oh my god!

What would happen if, by any chance there were to be a war?

- Mir Sahib. - Yes.

- Get me that sword. - What!?

- Sword. - The sword!?

Go on and bring it here. Show it to Munshi.

Oh, not like that. Take it out of the scabbard.

Do you know to whom this sword belongs?

No, sir.

Mir Sahib, you may tell him.

This sword belongs to Mirza Sahib's grandfather's...

great grandfather.

He and my grand father's great grandfather...

were together in the army of Nawab Burhan-ul-Mulk.

They were so brave, these two, that the enemies of...

Avadh trembled when they heard of them.

The Nawab had awarded them fiefdoms for their...

bravery and valor.

And we, their descendants, are enjoying the fruits...

of the fiefdoms till this day.

After all, some blood from these illustrious persons must...

be running in our veins. What do you say, Mir Sahib.

Be what it may. They cannot stop us from playing chess.

This is ridiculous.

We are talking of war and he is concerned with chess.

Don't worry, Mir Sahib. We might have invented chess...

but the English have also made progress.

The pawn moves two squares now.

Two squares?

Nawab, please excuse me.

So soon?

That you let me enter while you were playing...

chess was enough.

When Mr. Cullen plays chess, no one dares enter the room.

- That's something! - All right.

Munshi, go and tell your Mr. Cullen, it is not enough to...

learn the Hindustani language, it is also necessary...

to imbibe the Hindustani etiquette.

Definitely.

- I present greetings. - Greetings.

- Greetings. - Please come.

The grandsons of the officers of Nawab Burhan-ul-Mulk...

are preparing to start their game when elsewhere...

preparations are afoot for a game of another kind.

Lord Dalhousie, who sits in Calcutta, is sending an... urgent message.

You can make a guess about the importance of the...

documents from the speed of the horses of the riders.

After completing the 600-mile distance from Calcutta...

within 5 days and after changing horses 30 times.

They handed over the orders to General Outram in Elchi...

on the evening of 31 January, 1856.

Please bring the wash basin.

Friend, you finished so soon? You've hardly had anything.

Mirza, you know very well that I eat less.

- Call Maqbool, okay? - Okay.

- What? - The master is calling you.

Hiriya... Hiriya...

Forgive me. That was a mistake.

Here is my move. Check.

Master... Madam is calling you.

Master, Madam has called for you.

What's the matter.

How do I know that, sir?

Master.

Tell her that I'm coming.

Did you like the biriyani?

Is she calling you to ask you that?

Child, the master said that he is coming.

When is he coming?

He did not tell me when he is coming.

Hiriya.

Yes.

Go and tell him that I'm having headaches. Come immediately.

Oh, God! Why did you not tell me. I would have applied sandal wood balm.

- Just do what you are told. - Yes.

Check.

She has a headache.

She's said that she has a severe headache.

She's called you immediately.

Oh, go on and see her.

Tell her I'm coming.

All right.

If I sit all night at a dance show, she doesn't complain...

but if you sit in your own home and play an excellent...

game, she pesters you.

Just go and come.

In the meantime, I will think of a reply for this move.

She has a head ache.

And also give her my regards.

And don't change the pieces while I am not here.

Oh my god! Can I ever commit such a vile act?

Hiriya was saying, god forbid that you have a headache.

- What is it to you? - What do you mean?

As if you care for my headache.

But I...

If I were to be breathing my last you would not even...

pour water in my mouth.

What kind of talk is that, my queen? I have left my game incomplete...

May fire consume this game.

This accursed game is a game of fools.

Now, my queen, this is such a wonderful game.

Do you know, this is a Hindustani game and...

is now played across the world.

The whole world is a fool.

My queen, after I have started playing chess my...

understanding has increased by a hundred percent.

- I think far ahead now. - Even then you do not think about me.

What do you mean? I came immediately as Hiriya told me...

leaving my game halfway.

It was far better when you remained at the apartment...

of that witch Daumini.

At least I knew that you are not coming home.

Now you don't meet me even though you are at home.

It is the wife's death on the chess mat.

Day and night, you shift rooks and knights with...

lowered heads and here I am praying that god, when will...

this game be over and you come to take rest.

God! Your game is never over. I become mad waiting for you.

When I can't do anything else, I listen to stories from Hiriya.

That moron knows only three stories and can tell...

only those and no more.

And you, along with that moron, Mir Sahib...

my queen, why are you cursing my friend?

You are annoyed with me. Tell me anything.

The accursed fellow plays games all day and has no...

idea what games his wife plays at home all day.

Oh, for God's sake! Why do you spread rumors?

Rumors? The whole of Lucknow knows that...

Mir Sahib's wife is having an affair with another man.

If there is one who doesn't, it is your useless friend.

Look, you have an ache in your head, don't you?

- Let my enemies have a headache. - What!?

There is no pain.

Then why did you call me?

All right then, I'm going.

- No. - Hey!

- Stay here with me. - What are you doing?

What are you looking at.

- Your eyes. - My eyes?

They have become red, looking at those...

- accursed chess pieces. - Really?

Tonight, I won't let you go back.

That poor Mir Sahib would be waiting...

Forget chess sometimes. For my sake.

What are you doing?

In this cold weather!

Don't be annoyed.

Don't turn away your face like that.

- The matter is that... - You don't like me.

I want you, my queen. I will prove it.

I will prove it tomorrow itself.

Today my mind was elsewhere.

Mir Sahib was waiting outside. And the game is unfinished.

You only like your game.

All right. Let's do this.

Tomorrow, I will finish with the game early and have...

dinner with you.

You will know tomorrow how much I love you. Agreed?

Agreed.

- Hiriya! - Why do you call, madam?

Come here and tell me a story.

I have to keep awake all night.

- Was the pain severe? - Very much so.

She was beating her arms and legs with pain.

I was afraid I might have to press her head.

Check.

The next morning General Outram summoned...

the king of Avadh, to the Residency.

Resident Sahib, it is possible that the Sultan-e-Alam may...

lose his senses when he hears about this.

It would never have occurred to him that the Company...

would treat him like this.

God alone knows how much indignity and hurt...

this decision will bring him.

When His Majesty hears of this new treaty he will be...

- Just sum it up, Weston, will you? - Sir.

His Majesty will be shocked to hear this.

Will you tell the Prime Minister that I'd like His Majesty to go...

through the treaty and let me know his views...

as soon as possible, It is a matter of the utmost urgency.

Will you tell the Prime Minister that I'd like His Majesty to go...

through the treaty and let me know his views...

as soon as possible, It is a matter of the utmost urgency.

But what is the need for the new treaty, Resident Sahib?

What will happen to the treaty executed 20 years ago.

Reply to him, Mr. Resident. Why the new treaty?

What happened to the old one?

Will you please tell the Prime Minister, that despite...

repeated warnings, from our government, His Majesty has...

made no efforts whatsoever during the last 10 years...

to improve the administration here.

And since this has caused considerable distress...

amongst the common people of the province.

Our government has no alternative except to...

take matters into their own hands.

That despite...

repeated warnings, from our government, His Majesty has...

made no efforts whatsoever during the last 10 years...

to improve the administration here.

And since this has caused considerable distress...

amongst the common people of the province...

our government has no alternative except to...

take matters into their own hands.

The Prime Minister wishes to know how there can be talk...

of misrule when the people are so happy.

The Prime Minister wishes to know how there can be talk...

of misrule when the people are so happy.

Just ask the prime minister.

That he know's about Colonel Sleeman's report,

Have you read Colonel Sleeman's report,

I am aware of this report.

But Colonel Sleeman had gone on a tour of the country...

contrary to the king's wishes.

In spite of this we had borne all the atrocities of...

Colonel Sleeman and his 1100 men.

We arranged elephants and camels for them and also arranged for their food.

If despite all this Colonel Sleeman has given a...

report against us, then it's our ill-fortune.

Had Colonel Sleeman had undertaken a tour of...

West Bangal, which is under the control of the Company...

Mr. Khan, it's no use wasting words.

The Governor General's decision is irrevocable.

Unfaithful fellows! Something is lifted from the house...

while you sleep?

I will have each one of you put in jail.

Useless fellows. You have been stuffing yourself...

for years and have now also started stealing.

- Sir... - I don't want excuses!

I present greeting, Mirza Sahib.

Greetings.

Now, why do you stand around with heads down?

Get lost. Go search for it.

Sir, what is the matter?

Matter? Some idiot has stolen my chess pieces.

Oh my god!

Actually, it is my fault. I left them outside.

I should have locked then up in a trunk.

How can you trust anyone in these bad days.

- People steal the collyrium from one's eyes. -That's right.

What will happen now?

I don't have them or I would have brought them.

Mirza sahib, why don't we go to the market.

We'll buy a set there.

Mir Sahib, today is Friday.

Which shopkeeper would have kept his shop open for you?

Oh, for God's sake!

I had come with some new moves in mind and...

the market also had to be closed.

The whole evening was spoilt.

Anyway, the rest of the life would be... gone through somehow.

What is the worry that is left?

- Mir Sahib. - Yes.

- Do you know our advocate? - Mr. Abajani.

Do you remember the left corner of his drawing room?

Left corner... Left...

I certainly remember it.

Please sit down. I will go inside and inform them.

He has had me blow up thousands of rupees...

- for fighting cases. - But not from me?

He shouldn't refuse, if we ask for a day.

That he shouldn't.

- Chuttan Mian, greetings. - Greetings.

Greetings.

- Is the advocate at home? - Yes, sir. Yes, sir.

He is resting.

He is lying down. Unconscious.

We've called the doctor. Please sit down.

Please sit down.

He was laughing and talking till morning.

If God desires, he will return consciousness very soon.

By the grace of God.

- May God ensure that he recovers soon. - Yes, yes.

Amen, amen.

- Sir, if you don't mind... - No, no. Please carry on.

Come on, my pawn.

Abajani is conscious now. He is conscious now.

Come, he will be very happy to see you. Come.

Sir, the advocate doesn't seem to be in his senses.

He is conscious. He just spoke to me. Just wait a while.

Abajani! Mirza Sahib and Mir Sahib have come to...

ask dear father.

Abajani.

IN ARABIC "WE BELONG TO ALLAH AND TO ALLAH WE SHALL RETURN"

"Kanha, I have lost to you and forsaken everything..."

"Kanha, I have lost to you and forsaken everything..."

"Kanha, I have lost to you and forsaken everything..."

"Listen to me Hari I will not curse you..."

"Listen to me Hari I will not curse you..."

"Kanha, I have lost to you and forsaken everything..."

"Kanha, I have lost to you.."

"Kanha, I have lost to you."

"He teases me everyday, he doesn't let me go."

"He teases me everyday, he doesn't let me go."

"He teases me everyday, he doesn't let me go."

"My friends at the shore look at us"

"Leave me do not touch my veil"

"Leave me do not touch my veil"

"Everyone looks at us."

"Kanha, I have lost to you and forsaken everything..."

"Kanha, I have lost to you."

"Kanha, I have lost to you.."

"Kanha, I have lost to you."

"Kanha, I have lost to you."

"Kanha, I have lost to you."

What's the matter?

What's this? Control yourself.

Has the Resident recited a poem to you?

Only love and poetry can bring tears to a man's eyes.

What is the matter, after all, Madarruddaulah.

King,

your graceful head will be shorn of its crown.

Bravo, Sohrab, my son.

Play and win. Two for one. Two for one. Great, Sohrab.

Come, place your bets. Place your bets with open hearts.

Which of them is Rustom and which is Sohrab.

The black one is my Sohrab. Sir. Go on, place your bet.

- Listen. - Yes, tell me.

- Place one rupee on Rustom. - Yes, very well, very well.

Mir Sahib, why are you wasting your money?

It is not for decent people to bet on rams.

What do you say, sir?

Come on, fight!

We won!

Place your bets and win big!

Wow. Come on.

Come along.

The great King, the king of Avadh informs...

everyone that the ones who are spreading the rumors...

about the imminent take over of the sultanate by the...

Company will be arrested by the order of the government...

and that they will be proclaimed criminals...

and be severely punished.

The public must know that the forces of the Company is not...

being amassed in the country with any such motive but...

have come for the security of the Rajah of Nepal.

Mirza Sahib,

why do they spread rumors?

Henceforth, if someone even speaks of Company forces...

I swear I will pull out his tongue.

What a lovely day... and we are bereft of chess.

Mir Sahib, the solution of every difficulty is there...

what is needed is only someone to search it.

Come, let's go to the house.

Drink a little water. Yes. Enough, enough.

- Betel. - Maqbool!

Have more water.

- Yes, sir. - Bring the betel leaf case.

These all...

Great. Wonderful.

Mirza Sahib, sometimes I feel enamored with your brains.

Greetings.

- Now, come on. Are the pawn fine? - Yes.

- The king and queen are fine. - Yes.

But don't make a mistake between the yellow knight...

and the rookh.

Listen. The bishop is the tomato.

The lemon the knight and the chilly the rookh.

The bishop is the tomato. The lemon the knight and the chilly the rookh.

- Maqbool! - Yes, madam?

- Has Nawab Sahib arrived? - Yes, madam.

- Is he alone? - No, madam. Mir Sahib is with him.

I hope they are not playing chess.

They are. But not with pieces but with lime and betel.

Who knows what magic charm there is in chess?

Oh! What are you doing, Mir Sahib. That is the knight.

The lemon is the knight. The tomato is the bishop.

Who has done that?

Maqbool Mian. Oh, Maqbool Mian.

- Mir Sahib. - Yes.

If you have no objection...

from tomorrow, we will play at your house.

That's too much. The house is yours. You are most welcome.

Thank you.

Maqbool.

Present these vegetables to madam on my behalf.

You all have betrayed me.

All of you.

I trusted you more than even my own relatives.

I entrusted to you all the responsibilities of the...

administration of the state.

And what have you done?

Besides filling your own pockets, what have you done? Nothing!

Mr. Sleeman did tell me to be careful of you all but I...

used to ignore him. Now I realize he was right.

What he said about was also not wrong, Madaruddaulah.

- About me, Sultan-e-Alam? - Yes, about you.

What mistake has been done by this slave?

You are asking me this?

Could you not have throw this piece of paper at the...

face of the Resident?

Could you not have asked him what right he had to break...

the previous treaty in which it is clearly written that while...

The company can take over the administration of the sultanate...

but it cannot take my title away?

The mistake, of course, is mine.

It would have been better if I had refused to sit...

on the throne.

But it was my boyhood. These diamonds, these jewels...

this glamour, this attraction, this royal splendor....

all this tempted my heart.

But when I was enthroned, I did try to be a proper ruler...

and to some extent, did succeed in doing a good job of it.

Am I wrong, Mudaruddaulah?

Absolutely not, King.

Do you remember my army, Diwan-e-bahadur?

How can I forget, Sultan-e-Alam?

Do you remember what frolic there used to be every day?

What lovely names I had kept for our platoons.

Banka, Tirchha, Akhtari, Nazreen, Ghangor.

And our ladies army?

Exquisite, lovely, beautifully attired.

Arab stallions, when they trotted past...

how lovely sight it used to be! How lovely!

But the Resident Sahib did not relish all this.

Richmond Sahib.

He said what is the need for this army?

The English army is there to protect your borders and...

you are paying its salary too.

Then why do you need to take this bother?

Very well, Richmond Sahib.

Your wish is my command.

We will remove this bother too.

What should I do now?

You tell me what I could do?

If the king shouldn't be worried about his subjects...

then what should he do?

If a king does not rule, what does he do?

I have received a reply to this question, too.

Richmond Sahib did not tell me. No one told me.

It came on its own.

Do you remember that song of mine, Madaruddaulah?

Which song, King?

'The night passes away in suffering...'

'to which country has gone my soul mate'

Undoubtedly, I remember.

Do you know when and where I had thought up this song?

No, sir.

Here.

Here. On this very throne. During the full court.

The whole scene is before my eyes.

A man is standing before me and his plea is being heard...

when suddenly, an unusual thing occurs.

His voice stops reaching my ears and after that...

"The night passes away in suffering."

"to which country has gone my soul mate."

"My soulful eyes...

are tearful."

"They are yearning, and waiting for you."

"When your horses left from my doorway."

"I took leave of my senses, crazy woman that I am..."

"The night passes away in suffering."

"to which country has gone my soul mate."

Bravo! Great!

And this was my reply. This.

No, Madaruddaulah, I wasn't fit to be king.

But had my subjects complained to me?

Had they said, Jaan-e-Alam, leave the throne.

We don't want you. In your rule, we are sorromul...

we are upset, then, by God, I would separate myself...

from both throne and crown.

But my subjects did not say that.

And do you know why they did not, Madaruddaulah?

They did not say this because I never hid from them... my true nature.

They knew what kind of a king I was.

And even so, they loved me.

Today, even after ten years, I see love in their eyes.

They sing my songs in the streets and by lanes.

Madarudaulah, just go and enquire of the Resident...

how many kings of England wrote songs...

and how many of Queen Victoria's subjects sing their songs?

The government is sending its armies. Why?

They are afraid that the people of Avadh might stand... in their way.

They know that the people of Avadh also know how to fight.

From among our awesome subjects...

the Company army's best troops are taken.

Is that not an odd thing, Madruddaulah...

it is from our hungry, oppressed, awesome...

subjects that the best troops of the Company army... are admitted?

My ancestors have already given you half of Avadh...

now you want also the little area that remains.

You want my desire too.

This is my punishment.

This is the punishment for my mismanagement and mal-administration.

But if my subjects are so oppressed, then why don't...

they go and seek shelter in English-controlled areas?

Why don't they go to you and say that you save us from...

this useless king. Why?

Madaruddaulah, go and tell the Resident that...

I will not give him the throne just for the asking.

He will have to fight me to get it.

I don't like this damned business at all, Ferra.

Not one bit.

And it certainly won't renown to the credit of John Company.

- You know my views on Sind. - I do.

We have even worse justification for confiscation...

here than we have in Sind.

Mind you. Whatever I wrote in my report.

I fully endorse what Sleeman said.

That...

The administration here is excretory.

I don't like that fat king either, but a treaty is a treaty.

I don't know if they fully realize that the king would be...

perfectly justified in insisting on the validity of the...

earlier treaty and refusing to sign the new one.

But, wasn't the treaty of '37 abrogated by the...

- court of directors... - So it was.

But by an inexcusable omission on the part...

of our government, the king of Avadh was never informed.

Oh dear!

Therefore, I know we are fully entitled to take over the...

administration but we cannot dispense with the king...

and we cannot appropriate the revenue.

Nevertheless,

I am called upon to do my damnedest to...

make him sign an abdication so that we don't lose face...

while regaining the kingdom.

He moves out. We move in or rather march in...

the English troops are straining at the leash at Cawnpore...

and we take over.

But what if he should refuse to abdicate?

We still take over, Ferra.

The annexation of Avadh is a fait accompli.

Our intentional purposes were already standing on British territory and our...

gracious Queen already has 5 million more subjects and...

over a million pounds a year more in revenue.

No. No, no, no. The question is not whether he will abdicate...

but whether we can ensure a peaceful take over...

and I am afraid, the answer is no, we cannot.

You know Avadh does not lack fighting men.

Some of the pluckiest lads in our own troops are from here.

The king has his own troops and so do a number of the...

feudal barons who stand to lose by our action and if...

these people rise in defense of the province,...

we will have no choice but to order his own sepoys...

to fire on their own brothers.

- You see the dilemma. - I do, indeed.

If he... If he decides to abdicate, he loses the throne...

of course, but there are compensations.

He has a hundred thousand rupees a month...

as an allowance and he will have to give up all pretence of having...

to rule but who knows what he's going to do.

Does anyone ever know?

Does he know himself?

He's certainly the biggest bundle of contradictions...

I have ever come across.

I mean a devout man who prays 5 times a day...

never drinks and keeps a harem the size of a regiment.

The king sings, dances, lusts his wives, plays the tomtom...

flies kites from the palace roof.

And struts along the stage surrounded by frolicking nautch girls.

My God, Ferra, I have had dealings with antimonies...

before but none to hold a candle to this laddie.

I can't make him out. Can you?

Well, he can be obstinate.

He is the only king in the entire...

Avadh dynasty who has refused to be treated...

by an English doctor.

Who does he consult then?

- Quacks from what I can gather. - Stubborn fool.

I rather fear is that he's decided to be obstinate.

I sent him the draft treaty two days ago..

I asked for a quick reply and none has yet come and time is running out.

Five days to go

and still no word from the king.

You know what that means? I shall have to ask for an interview.

I get the wind up just to think of this.

- I know you don't like them. - Like them.

The very thought amands me, Ferra.

Can you think of anything more preposterous...

than the royal embrace?

And upon my soul, Ferra, what's that extraordinary... perfume he uses?

You mean this?

My God, man. That's it.

- It's attar, sir. Everyone uses it here. - Attar?

An extract of rose. The Damask rose, I think.

Damask rose? Do you know my uniform still reeks of it...

three months after the interview.

It'd be a damn sight more convenient if he would impart it to his... women folk.

At least one would be spared the extreme proximity.

Have you considered speaking to the Queen Mother?

I have. I have, indeed.

In fact, I am going to see her tomorrow morning.

I understand she is a very sensible woman.

Look, she is known to have given him good advice in the past.

So I am told.

But I damned if I know what defines good advice...

in the present instance, Ferra.

Good for whom?

Good for him? Good for us... good for the Company,

good for the people?

And why should she intercede on our behalf?

Why shouldn't she take the king's side.

After all, he is her own son and we are throwing him out are we not?

I don't like it, Ferra.

I don't like it at all.

Yet, we have to go through with it.

That's the problem.

And that's my complaint, doctor.

There's nothing you can prescribe for it.

Nothing.

Rafique Mian!

- Oh, Mir Sahib. - Yes?

This is more comfortable than my own drawing room.

No noise, no uproar. We'll think up good moves.

It is just your affection, sir.

Please fetch something for the guest.

And yes. Please tell my wife that Mirza Sahib will also...

be with us for the evening meal.

And Rafique Mian. Betel leaf.

- Mir Sahib. - Yes?

Don't forget to show me the wasli that your wife likes so much.

Yes, of course. Please sit down now.

- Madam. - What is it?

Master is asking for betel leaf.

Mirza Sahib is with him. He will be here for dinner.

Take the betel leaf.

Have you soothed your wife?

She was very annoyed last night. She was spitting fire.

It is a peculiar problem.

Come on, my pawn. In the name of God.

Mir Sahib, if there is a wife, then every problem is peculiar.

What is your view?

Whatever peculiar problem there might be, friend...

there is no problem here.

- Something untoward has happened. - What's happened?

He is at home. He's playing in the drawing room.

- He's playing. - Chess.

- Chess? - Chess!

With Mirza Sahib.

He's never played at home before.

God, I'm feeling very upset.

Akheel, I hope he is not suspicious.

- So, uncle is playing chess. - What if something untoward happened?

It cannot happen.

When there is an open mat before one...

you cannot see anything but the pieces.

Yes, of course!

That is what he also has been saying.

The elders might have lowered heads, sir...

I pride myself on my good fortune.

Even if you take a lamp and look for one, you will not...

be able to find a better and more loving wife than my own.

She is gifted with such a nature that she never...

gives any cause for complaint.

Four?

- And she loves chess. - What are you saying?

Oh, yes!

One day I told her how the game is played and...

till this day, if I am getting late, she reminds me and...

says hurry up, Mirza Sahib must be waiting for you.

Wonderful!

And when I come home late at night, she massages my...

head with the oil of almonds so that I might...

get sleep quickly.

Oh God!

Oh, where are you going?

To get that wasli...

and give my regards to you wife.

And don't you change the pieces when I am gone.

Oh God!

No, no. Don't come out yet. It is not all right yet.

Tell...

Tell me, what is the problem?

He is trying to hide.

I can also see that he is trying to hide. But why?

They are after him.

Who is after him? What has he done, the princeling?

Has he beaten somebody?

What is this?

Oh, why don't you speak?

Do you have curd in your mouth?

- What happened? - Nothing.

Then who is after him? Who is after him?

- The army. The army is after me. - The army? Whose army.

- Our army. - The king's army.

- The king's army. - I see.

Yes, uncle. There are indications of war.

The Company's army has reached Kanpur...

and there is forcibly drafting into the king's army.

They have a shortage of soldiers.

They have caught lots of people and took them away.

But you also know all this?

- Brother Akheem just told me. - All right.

The government officers are searching in every house.

They had come to my house, too.

But he jumped out of the window and ran away.

Yes, sir.

Friend, did someone see you running away?

I can't say, uncle. But there was an official rider.

I had also heard the beat of the horse running.

- When? - Just before you arrived.

But...

what was the need to hide here?

No one can come into my bedroom.

- Sir, I... - Oh, he was afraid.

He behaves like a child. He's got a heart like a little bird.

Look. He's trembling like a leaf, the poor fellow.

Yes. Give the fellow a glass of hot milk.

Anyway, my young friend, you are absolutely safe here.

Absolutely.

Oh God!

Oh my god!

There are searches being done in houses, Mirza Sahib.

There is compulsory drafting into the army.

Oh, Mir Sahib. You have forgotten so soon what...

punishment will be meted out to anyone spreading rumors?

Which idiot is spreading rumors?

- I have been told by Akheel. - Akheel?

The son of Nawab Ateek-ur-Rehman's who's, my nephew...

- When did he tell you? - Just now.

- Just now? - Oh! He's hiding in my bedroom.

He gets subdued like a child. Got a heart like a little bird.

And was trembling with fear.

Mirza Sahib, the king's soldiers haven't got their...

pay for the last several months so, they are not likely to fight.

Now, I'll have to do something.

You mean, you are going to fight?

For God's sake! Why should I fight?

Oh, Mir Sahib. Come on, make a move.

Oh! How can I play, Mirza Sahib? Now, even this house is not safe.

Then what should we do? Do we go back to my house?

- No, no. There is no question of that. - Then, what?

What we'll do is...

Oh, they are coming back.

Why are you getting up? What are you doing?

Don't look outside, for God's sake. They will see you.

But they are not looking for anybody.

You rest assured, Mir Sahib, there is no need to be afraid.

Why are you looking at me?

Why are you laughing?

I am laughing at my friend and Nawab Burhan-ul-mulk's...

platoon-head's descendant, Mir Roshan Ali Mian.

Mirza Sahib! Mirza Sahib, come back to your senses!

- Yes. Listen to what I have to say. - Yes, tell me.

Come let's run away from here.

Run away? And friend, leaving the chess behind?

No, friend, taking the chess along.

But we won't play either here or at your house.

Then where will we play?

Let's do something.

Across the Gomti river, there is a small village.

There is a lonely mosque where no one comes.

Not even the sparrows come. We'll play there comfortably.

There will be no trouble. Do you understand?

- Near the river... - Have you seen that mosque?

With these very eyes, my dear sir. With these very eyes.

We will go at sunrise and return when the sun has set...

and no one will recognize us in the dark.

We will take the mat under our arm along...

with the chess pieces and the betel leaf.

- And food. - And food. We have to eat only once.

We'll have kebabs and bread from a shop.

And arms. We will have to keep arms with us.

Those who roam around unarmed in the kingdom of...

Nawab Wajid Ali Khan, don't come back home.

Oh! We'll take them. Pistols.

Begum Saheba has seen the treaty.

I have come to you, Begum Saheba, because I know...

I can trust you to give your son good counsel...

as you have done in the past.

I have come to you, Begum Saheba, because I know...

I can trust you to give your son good counsel...

as you have done in the past.

What if Begum Saheba would advise her son to take on the British forces?

What if Begum Saheba would advise her son to order his troops..

Take arms against British forces!

That, if I may say so, would be most imprudent.

That, if I may say so, would be most imprudent.

I have come here with only one purpose.

To ensure that His Majesty signs the new treaty...

and I would be greatly beholden to the Begum Saheba...

if she would request his Majesty to do so.

I have come here with only one purpose.

To ensure that his Majesty signs the new treaty and...

I would be greatly beholden to the Begum Saheba...

if she would request His Majesty to do so.

Resident Sahib, how can I tell him to sign a treaty that...

I have myself not understood,

Wajid Ali Shah was enthroned with the consent...

of your government.

If he did not turn out to be a good king...

then why was the Company silent? Why he was not helped?

Why was the administration in the country improved?

Why was it decided to dethrone him after ten years?

Has my son ever brought disrepute to your government?

Resident Sahib, you have forgotten.

When a year ago, you had come to Lucknow...

your welcome was done so grandly.

Have you seen in any part of Hindustan, a better...

reception and hospitality?

Does the Begum Saheba appreciate that his Majesty...

is being offered the most generous compensation...

for the action that our government is forced to take against him?

Does the Begum Saheba appreciate that His Majesty...

is being offered the most generous compensation...

for the action our government is forced to take against him?

Is the Governor-General a servant to the Company?

Is the Governor-General a servant to the Company?

- Yes, he is. - Yes, he is.

Is he also not the servant of the Queen of England?

Is he also not the servant of the Queen of England?

- Yes. - Yes.

Does the Queen of England realize how her servant...

is treating His Majesty. Who is the servant of...

almight God and nobody else.

Does the Queen of England realize how her servant...

is treating His Majesty who is the servant of the...

Almighty God and nobody else.

Resident Sahib, tell the Governor-General that we...

do not want compensation. We want justice.

If the servants of the Queen cannot give us justice...

we will ourselves to Queen Victoria and make a plea.

Today the Resident Sahib had gone to visit the...

Queen Mother and she told him that she will herself go...

to London, so that she can make a plea for justice...

to the Queen of England.

The Queen Mother is convinced that...

Queen Victoria will free the rule of the king of Avadh.

There is an intimation received from the land lords across...

the land of Avadh. They await your instructions.

If you say so, they are ready with a hundred thousand...

troops and a thousand cannons to stop the...

speedy advance of the English forces.

'When we are leaving the city of Lucknow. '

'what should we say what we went through.'

'When we are leaving the city of Lucknow. '

Company Bahadur, you will take the crown away...

from my head but how will you make me bow it?

The English government has offered me compensation.

If not in the capacity of the king of Avadh, but even as...

an ordinary citizen of Avadh, I must thank it.

The Resident Sahib may be informed...

that I will consider it my extreme good fortune...

if he would visit me at 8 am tomorrow morning,

but before he comes, all action... on all fronts be stopped,

the cannons be dismounted...

and the arms of the guards be taken away...

and have it announced that...

when the English forces comes to Lucknow...

our subjects must make no effort to resist them.

Oh, Mir Sahib, Where is your mosque?

I see the whole scene before my eyes.

The tamarind tree in the courtyard.

Is it possible that the English army has killed you mosque?

May not God so ordain.

Let us ask this young fellow.

Hey, you. Come here.

There used to be a mosque here, in ruins and lonely.

- No? - There is a mosque. Two miles away.

- Is it an old mosque? - That has been recently made.

Mir Sahib, did you see that mosque in your dreams?

Say something.

Mirza Sahib, I made a mistake again.

That mosque was in Kanpur.

I had seen it in my childhood that's why this silly mistake.

What should we do, Mirza Sahib such mistakes do occur.

Such wonderful words has Ustad Marhoom has spoken...

'Past civilizations...'

Pour ashes on your poetry. Tell me where should we sit.

In the middle of this field of sesamum?

Please sit in our sitting room. It is close by.

- Who else is there? - No one. Everyone has run away.

- Why? - To Sitapur.

Why?

The English army is coming, sir. What if they kill them?

You didn't run away?

I wanted to see the English army, sir.

You are not afraid of them?

I like their red uniform very much. They are coming today.

They will be coming down this very road.

If war breaks out, how shall we return?

You have come so far and are talking of going back?

No. Who's talking of returning?

- Then we will wait. - Absolutely.

- We'll play. - Absolutely.

Let's go to your house. Come along.

- What's your name? - Kallu, sir.

All right. Kallu?

Let it be, Kallu. We have a mattress.

- What are you playing? - Yes, chess.

Kallu Mian, do you know how to fill a pipe bowl?

Why not, sir?

So fill it for us. All the things are here.

- Will I get some reward, Nawab Sahib? - Yes, of course.

- And listen. Will you bring something to eat? -Now?

No, not now. When we are hungry.

You get food fit for Nawabs at the crossroads.

- I'll run and get it. - Bravo! All right. Take this, son.

Will you fight with the English army, sir?

Why not? If someone accosts us we are not the sort to shirk.

- What do you say, Mir Sahib. - Yes.

We are most grateful to His Majesty for granting us this interview.

We are most grateful to His Majesty for granting us this interview.

We also appreciate his gesture in disarming his soldiers.

We also appreciate his gesture in disarming his soldiers.

We regard it, we hope rightly, as evidence of his concern...

to negotiate the peaceful conclusion for the treaty.

We regard it, we hope rightly, as evidence of his concern...

to negotiate the peaceful conclusion for the treaty.

I would like, if I may, to add a personal request to His Majesty...

that he please sign this treaty and formalize his abdication.

I would like, if I may, to add a personal request to His Majesty...

that he please sign this treaty and formalize his abdication.

His Majesty shall have a maximum of three days for deliberation.

His Majesty shall have a maximum of three days for deliberation.

After which the Company will assume the administration of Avadh.

After which the Company will assume the... administration of Avadh.

I hope the king has understood what I have said.

I hope the king has understood what I have said.

What is this?

Will you please tell His Majesty that I have no use for that?

This is of no use to resident saheb.

You can take my crown, Resident Sahib...

but not my signature.

You have thought it out properly, haven't you?

If you want, you may take back the move.

Let it be.

As you wish.

I am going to win this game, my dear sir.

Oh, throw ashes on this game.

These accursed mosquitoes are sucking my blood.

That's funny. They don't bother me.

These are special mosquitoes. They want only royal blood.

So, sir, here is a check.

Bless me. Where is that idiot boy gone to?

Kallu! Kallu!

Oh! You have yourself sent him to get the food.

Do you know how to fill the pipe bowl?

I don't know where the idiot has kept the tobacco.

It's already afternoon and there is no sign of the boy...

or of the kebabs and bread.

We become so helpless without servants.

Sir, there is a poem by Marhoom...

and a very good one.

'Love for you has made me belong nowhere.'

'Neither to the wind, nor to the winds, nor to the earth...'

Today your mood is very nice.

- Yes, I am feeling wonderful. - That's obvious.

The General is about to win the war.

The new moves that I had thought up have...

swept the battlefield.

What a quiet place this is.

Here there is neither the fear of the king's army...

nor of the English army.

Looks like last night the massage with the...

oil of almonds was a long one.

Oh! Not only last night. It's done every night.

I get lovely sleep.

- Where was Akheel Mian? - What?

When the massage was on, where was Akheel Mian?

Under the bed?

What do you intend to say by those words?

Please make your move.

I never expected anything like this from you.

You are speaking in this fashion because you are losing the game.

Which idiot is losing? I have already made my move.

It's your turn. Make your move.

How many times have you beaten me and there has...

not been a bead of sweat on my brow.

You make your move, Mir Sahib.

And here you are getting out of hand.

These are not the ways of decent people.

Oh, how am I a decent person?

Decent are those whose wives call just anybody...

- into their bedroom and... - Mirza!

You cannot talk to me in this fashion.

- Why can't I? - You are forgetting your standard.

Your ancestors used to skin the ears and you...

call yourself the son of nawabs.

And what was your family?

Only till the other day before they were blowing into the...

stoves in the kitchens of the rich and clean vessels...

But, Mir Sahib...

What are you...

What are you doing?

Are you in your senses?

You've lost your mind.

Remove it. Remove this accursed pistol.

Once I am afire, I don't look either to left or to right, Mirza.

All right. Open fire. Kill me.

But whatever I have said, Mir Sahib, is true.

It's a lie!

- I'm willing to swear upon it. - I cannot believe it.

Anyway, one day or the other the matter will be revealed...

then you will rue this day, friend.

You... you are saying this so that I get upset and lose the game?

Mir Sahib, this is an absolutely mean allegation.

Can I ever do such a thing?

Do you think I am such a lowly person?

How many times have you cheated me?

How many times you have changed pieces?

I never said a thing...

The English army, sir.

I have brought the food, sir.

I have brought the food, sir.

There was a big mob at the crossroads, sir.

In hundreds of thousands. Some were running here...

and some there. That is why I was late. Take this.

Keep it there on the mattress.

- This money's left, sir. - Keep it.

The king has abdicated, sir.

The white people are our kings now.

No one is fighting. No one is firing a gun.

You are right, Kallu.

There will be no firing and there won't be a war.

Wajid Ali Shah will fulfill his promise.

Three days from today, on 7 February, 1856,...

there will be English rule over Avadh.

Jaan-e-Alam will leave his beloved city for ever...

and Lord Dalhousie would have swallowed... the last cherry.

Come, Mir Sahib. The kebabs are getting cold.

Looks like you have been resting under a tree.

Yes, crows also consider me vile.

The English army has captured Avadh...

and we have run away here and are fighting over useless things.

What could we have done by being in the city, Mir Sahib.

Those who could not control their wives...

how could they face the English army.

You are absolutely right. It's no use being upset.

I am not upset about this.

Then why are you upset?

That, with whom will I play chess now?

You have a player here before you and there are...

kebabs and bread. Eat on and play on.

We'll go back home as soon as it is dark.

The dark is necessary for hiding the face, Mir Sahib.

Come, while we are at it, let's have a quick game.

A quick game?

Yes, a quick game.

At a fast speed, like a train.

Mr. Prime Minister, you get aside.

Queen Victoria is coming.